Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1887-08-20
FOR THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
Little Pilgrims.


Ben. Lihkun's garden Is tnder the
Greening Tree. He made it himself, with
crazy fence round it Of little sticks to
mark it off from Mother Hubbard's.
Hers is Under the Greening Tree, too,
fenced off in most orderly Compartments.
Young Beans poke their green bonnets
up saucily from mound about as big
round as little Mother Hubbard's Sun hat.
The Potato patch is about as big as
oh, three Sun hats, or was-but she be-
gins to think some of them have hoped
over the fence, for almost every morning
when she goes out to see if her Garden
is "up yet" she comes right back with
wide eyes and says: "Nuther Tato up
this mornin'." Ben. Linkun follows
with: "I'ce got hummer one tOo."
The couple of Lemon Seeds fenced in a
plot the size of teacup have not yet ap-
preached above ground, and both Ben
and Mother Hubbard begin to think
they've changed their minds and gone the
other way to see what's in China Town.
Then there's strawberry vine blossom
ing bravely in each small garden, spite
of knowing how very hard it is for Ben's
fingers to keep from picking the blossoms
for a ''Boka" to take to school.
And close by the foot of the Greening
Tree, nesting contentedly against its
rough brown bark, there's bunch of
Pansies-a big bunch. Nobody knows
how it came there, or whom it blossoms
for, and so the gentle Pansy faces that
turn towards Mother Hubbard's garden
are Hubbards, and those that look at Ben
Linkunss bean bonnets are Ben Linkuns.
And the dear little Mother Pansy some
how manages to turn about an even num-
Der each way. 1t therefore follows that
pansy "Bokas" are often in the sailor
knot under Ben Linkun's chin; in the
seven buttonholes adown the front of his
checked gingham; in pudgy 'foomery'
bottle of little Hubbard's on her desk at
school; while here and there about the
house and on the doorsteps is a rich
faced, patient Pansy waiting to be found
and welcomed joyfully like a prodigal
returned. But one evening Ben Linku;i
left his garden gate opcn-too tired from
chasing pair of speckled woodpecker;
from the apple trees to repair his fences
and next morning yellow-coated young
marauder was found keeping house right
in the midst of Ben's finest Potato vine.
Ben was solemnly indignant He
threw away the Dandelion jewelry he'd
been making and began to "shoo" with
all his might till Mother Hubbard ap-
peared. She pondered the situation,
went straight and brought the pepper
box from their sand house, and there il
her white poke bonnet and red pulled
sleeves, with the little Shepherdess' red
petticoats held carefully away from pos
sible contact with the yellow-coated pill
ferer, she briskly sifted the shining sand
above him-that was to have frosted g
cake with that day-'till it filed his little
black eyes so full then could see which
way to back out of the magic garden,
and so doubled up his six fragile, black
stockened feet, meekly folded his two
meddlesome feelers under his tiny bronze
chin, and in despair turned an ingloriou'
somersault right over into the dirt and
lay motionless.
Ben and Mother Hubbard looked sorry,
then Uttered softly together over theil
victory, and the wonderful discovery Of
sure slayer of Yellow Jackets.
They took the little shrunken body on
Burdock leaf and laid it away in the
shade of the Greening Tree, went to SOW
Morning Glory seeds and forgot all about
the dead Potato Bug.
When the City Horns were blowing
for dinner-time, they rushed out to gel
the body of the unfortunate for exhibi-
tion. 1t wasn't there
They seached for him wonderingly,
and by and by found him swinging gaily
in the very top notch Of thrifty cab
bage, looking down upoL them with
sweetly meditative eyes, qaite at home,
quite happy.
Sen Linkun looked shyly at Mother
Hubbard, then went off to swing bravely,
whistling: "a Dairy Maid and Il" and
little Hubbard walked majestically away
to finish her sand cakes.
ANNA MIDLER